II. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Cesar Chavez - Rosa Parks Program

Program: Martin Luther King, Jr. — Cesar Chavez — Rosa Parks college day program

Program Description:

This appropriation funds the Martin Luther King, Jr. — Cesar Chavez — Rosa Parks College Day Program. This program sends students from grades 6 through 11 to the campuses of Michigan’s public universities for day and overnight stays. The purpose of the program is to motivate these students to attend college, help them explore career possibilities, teach them about college admission requirements, and to allow them to interact with faculty. The program is targeted toward minority students within the 30 public school districts and public school academies with the highest percentages of minority students, as reported by the Michigan Department of Education.[6]

Recommended Action:

This program duplicates a number of programs conducted by universities and colleges throughout the state; it should be eliminated. Savings: $1,212,611.

Program: Martin Luther King, Jr. — Cesar Chavez — Rosa Parks future faculty fellowship program

Program Description:

This appropriation funds the Martin Luther King, Jr. — Cesar Chavez — Rosa Parks Future Faculty Program. This program grants loans to minority students working toward Master’s and doctoral degrees at Michigan’s public universities. If the student is a Michigan resident, one-third of his debt is cancelled upon graduation. Additional forgiveness will accrue at the rate of $5,000 for each year within the pay back period that the borrower is employed in a full-time teaching position at a Michigan public or independent two or four-year college or university.

Recommended Action:

This program should be eliminated. If a university places a high priority on such a program it could be funded with revenues raised through the private fundraising efforts of the university itself. Savings: $1,228,262.

Program: Martin Luther King, Jr. — Cesar Chavez — Rosa Parks visiting professors program

Program Description:

This appropriation funds the Martin Luther King, Jr. — Cesar Chavez — Rosa Parks Visiting Professors Program. This program subsidizes the salaries of visiting minority faculty at Michigan’s public universities.

Recommended Action:

This program should be eliminated. If a university places a high priority on such a program it could be funded with revenues raised through the private fundraising efforts of the university itself. Savings: $171,916.